Talking About Disasters:
Guide for Standard Messages

Since early 2002, the National Disaster Education Coalition has worked on reviewing and updating its "Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages." The review process included extensive participation by more than 450 professionals, scientists, and researchers who contributed to the material. Representatives from NDEC participating agencies have spent numerous hours to refine and resolve content issues and questions, to ensure accuracy, consistency, and appropriateness of messages.

This Guide is in the public domain and may be freely downloaded and republished without written permission. Please click here to access the guide.

Acknowledgments

Development of this guide was made possible by a grant from the Home Safety Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping prevent the nearly 21 million medical visits that occur on average each year from unintentional injuries in the home. Through national programs and partners across America, the Home Safety Council works to educate and empower families to take actions that help keep them safe in and around their homes. To learn more about the council’s programs, partnerships, and resources, visit the Home Safety Council at www.homesafetycouncil.org.

This guide is the product of the hard work and collaboration of many professionals affiliated with the organizations composing the National Disaster Education Coalition, which represents the expertise and commitment of the following organizations:

• American Geological Institute
• American Red Cross
• Disability Preparedness Center
• Home Safety Council
• The Humane Society of the United States
• Institute for Business & Home Safety
• International Association of Emergency Managers
• National Fire Protection Association
• National SafeKids Campaign
• National Science Foundation
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
  • Food Safety and Inspection Service
• U.S. Department of Commerce
  • NOAA/National Weather Service
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Food and Drug Administration
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • U.S. Fire Administration
• U.S. Department of Interior
  • U.S. Geological Survey

The content of this guide is in the public domain. Requested attribution is as follows:

From: Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages. Produced by the National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, D.C., 2004.